Dishwasher Buying Guide

EnergyGuide labels on new dishwashers allow you to see how much energy and water they use.

Photograph by Jiri Hera/Shutterstock

Usage Tips

Save more water at home. Instead of pre-rinsing dishes, scrape food into the garbage or composter. Pre-rinsing can use an additional 20 gallons of water per load on average, negating any water-saving effects you've achieved with your dishwasher.

If your dishes don't need heavy-duty washing, use a light or energy-saving cycle.

Choose air-dry settings when possible. You'll cut down on energy use, and can also save energy at home by hand-drying your dishes.